Perimeter Profile: Mike Bruns

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

El Tour de Mesa – Outstanding Volunteer

Mike Bruns, 52, of Mesa, Arizona, a first-time Perimeter event volunteer, turned out to be the most outstanding. El Tour piqued his interest last year – he was out on a solo ride and ran into a stream of event riders and official vehicles. Bruns had planned to ride this year but decided to volunteer instead when a hamstring injury sustained in January while running in the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, temporarily sidelined his cycling endeavors.

A Linux systems administrator for Computer Sciences Corporation, Bruns is an organized fellow with a keen sense of the big picture. He helped with registration on Friday during Bike Expo and Packet Pickup, and then in the finishing chute on ride day. “Helping behind the scenes you really see all the hard work that goes into these events,” Bruns said. “I’m primarily a runner … cycling events are more complex: … The events are longer, cover more distance, require more police and barricades and accommodations for all the bikes.”

Camera shy, Bruns likes to stay in the background, but his good deeds are evident and greatly appreciated. Bruns plans to ride next year. He also wants to continue to help out, this time as a member of Bike Patrol.

As Most Outstanding Volunteer Bruns was awarded a special El Tour de Mesa Conquistador Trophy (pictured above).

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